BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Interstat) — The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers erased a five-run deficit with a four-run eighth inning to stun the Belmont Bruins 9-8 in a non-conference baseball thriller Tuesday night.

The Hilltoppers (17-16) sent 10 batters to the plate in the decisive eighth, capitalizing on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to complete the comeback against a Belmont bullpen that had been nearly perfect for five innings. The Bruins (12-21) saw a late lead vanish for the second time in a week.

Belmont built an early advantage, striking for two runs in the second inning against Western Kentucky’s bullpen. JD Whitworth’s two-run single to shortstop scored Jake Maddox and Mike Sprocke. The Bruins extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth without a hit, as Isaac Vander scored on a wild pitch.

Western Kentucky got on the board in the third when Reid Howard tripled to left field to drive in JP Acosta, who had doubled. The Hilltoppers then chipped away at the 8-1 lead with a three-run sixth. Hayes K. delivered an RBI single, Cole P. added a sacrifice fly and Stewart D. doubled home another run to make it 8-4. The rally continued as Krish Gandhi entered with the bases loaded and issued a walk to Howard, forcing in a run to cut the deficit to 8-5.

Belmont center fielder Brady Holbrook was a constant offensive threat, going 4 for 5 with two RBIs. His eighth-inning single to right field drove in two runs, seemingly providing crucial insurance and restoring a three-run lead at 8-5.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the eighth. After a walk and a double put runners on second and third with no outs, Acosta laced a two-run single to center, pulling Western Kentucky within a run. After a stolen base and a walk put two runners in scoring position, Hall A. delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single to left center that gave the Hilltoppers their first lead at 9-8.

Belmont relievers Cole Kenyon, Zane Brown and Krish Gandhi had combined for 4 1/3 perfect innings of relief with five strikeouts from the third through the seventh, keeping the Hilltoppers at bay. However, the eighth-inning rally proved too much to overcome.

Western Kentucky’s bullpen, after a shaky start, settled in to secure the win. Gage Olsen, Jude Favela and Nathan Lawson combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Lawson worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory.

The Hilltoppers out-hit the Bruins 12-11. Acosta finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Western Kentucky.

Belmont opens a three-game series against East Tennessee State on Friday. Western Kentucky begins a conference series at home against New Mexico State on Friday.